Historic Athleticism Has Eli Stowers Skyrocketing Up NFL Draft Boards

Eli Stowers is the most athletic tight end in the 2026 NFL Draft. That statement became nondebatable when he set records at the NFL Combine by leaping outrageous results, a 45.5-inch vertical and 11-foot-3 broad jump. That same athleticism is highlighted on Stowers' tape, as the Vanderbilt pass catcher routinely created mismatches in 2025.

A top prospect, Stowers recently spoke exclusively with NFL Draft On SI. Stowers discussed his record-setting performance at the NFL Combine, running the 40 on a strained hamstring, his relationship with Diego Pavia and making the transition from New Mexico State to Vanderbilt, and more.

NFL Draft Interview: Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers Has Elite Athleticism

JM: You arrived at Texas A&M as a quarterback in 2021. I mean, wow. Did you always think you'd end up playing quarterback? You’ve undergone quite the transformation.

Eli Stowers: Yeah, that’s all I knew at that point. As soon as I started playing football in the first grade, I was a quarterback. I went through high school playing quarterback all the way up into college.

If you asked me then, I definitely thought I was going to be a quarterback (laughs).

JM: It’s crazy how things change. What do you best recall about the process of transitioning to tight end?

Eli Stowers: It started at New Mexico State. I transferred there from Texas A&M as a quarterback. I was competing with Diego Pavia for the starting quarterback job. Isn’t that crazy? (laughs).

Diego won the job. I went to the coaching staff and said I was willing to do anything to help the team. I had to find a new path. I know I can help, even if that means playing a different position on offense, defense, or special teams. I just want to contribute.

That’s when I started making the transition to tight end. I was still in the quarterback room that entire season. I was doing both while making the move to tight end. I was being eased into it.

The following year, members of our coaching staff came to Vanderbilt and I made the move with them. Long story short, I became a full-time tight end and that’s where I’ve played the past two seasons.

JM: You get to Vanderbilt in 2024 and I'd say they were about midway through their transformation into a very legitimate contender. The program is on a special trajectory, according to 2024 and 2025. You must have loved being a part of that, you and Diego Pavia. You helped change the culture.

Eli Stowers: I think head coach Clark Lea has always had a vision for the program. He was always going to put us in positions to succeed. We had a pretty strong winning culture at New Mexico State that year. We won 10 games in 2023.

Bringing Diego Pavia and I over to Vanderbilt, along with multiple coaching staff members from New Mexico State, it helped bring a different mentality to the program. Diego Pavia deserves a lot of credit for that.

We had a special belief that we were going to win every single game. We didn’t let anybody tell us who we are. Vanderbilt had a bad reputation for being the worst team in the SEC. We didn’t subscribe to that when we arrived.

We made it about us, about the team. We believed in what we had. We believed we could win every game we played in.

Eli Stowers - Vanderbilt — Nov 8, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) against the Auburn Tigers during pre-game warmups at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images | Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

JM: You’ve developed into a special player. The story writes itself. You went to the NFL Combine and posted some historic numbers. You set the all-time record in the broad jump (11-foot-3) and vertical (45.5-inch) by a tight end. You also ran an excellent 4.51. Did you know you were going to post such outrageous numbers?

Eli Stowers: Yeah, I knew my jumps were going to be pretty good (laughs). Honestly, the 45.5-inch in the vertical did surprise me a little bit though. I was hoping to hit 43 inches. I ended up going 45.5. I was surprised in the best way possible.

The broad jump, my goal was 11-3, that’s exactly what I did. Shout out to the training staff at EXOS for putting me in that position. I wanted 4.4s in the 40, but I couldn’t complain [about running a 4.51].

Funny story, I actually wasn’t going to run the 40. I had strained my hamstring a couple of weeks before the combine. I hadn’t run full speed since. Running the 40, that was the first time I had run at full speed since my hamstring.

I made the decision to run the 40 the night before the NFL Combine. I was like you know what, I feel good. My hamstring is feeling better. Let’s just go out there and do it (laughs). It was a great time. I’m happy with it.

I wanted 4.4s though.

JM: That’s wild. You took a chance running the 40, not really knowing what you were going to run. I can’t believe that was the first time you had run it in multiple weeks. And you’re still complaining about a 4.51?!?

Eli Stowers: Yeah, pretty much (laughs). I didn’t hit full speed until literally that day.

JM: That’s an incredible story. Does Eli Stowers have a favorite route to run? You're such a mismatch weapon in the passing game. It’s so much fun watching you create advantages for yourself on tape.

Eli Stowers: I like running option routes. Being a former quarterback, I like having the option to read the defense and what they’re doing. I can make my decision based on what they’re doing. It’s a lot.

Those option routes allow me to rely on size and athleticism, especially against man coverage. When it’s zone [coverage], I have to use my football IQ and make the best decision. Where are the defenders gonna be? What zones have open space? I love those option routes.

JM: You put defenders in a bind when running those option routes. Did you have any formal interviews at the NFL Combine? Do you have any upcoming visits or Zoom meetings?

Eli Stowers: I had a few formals at the NFL Combine. I had the Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, and Philadelphia Eagles, to name a few. I had an in-person visit with the Tennessee Titans. I have visits with the Broncos and Dallas Cowboys.

You have to be prepared for everything during the pre-draft process. You don’t know what’s going to happen on draft day. I’m just enjoying the process by controlling what I can control. I’m doing my job, and God will take me wherever he wants to take me.

JM: We've appreciated your time today. This interview has highlighted why Eli Stowers is one of the best tight ends in the 2026 NFL Draft. What kind of impact is Eli Stowers going to make at the next level?

Eli Stowers: I just want to help the team win football games. That’s the goal when I get to the league. I’m going to do whatever I’m asked to do. You’re going to get a really good athlete at the tight end position.

I have a unique blend of size and athleticism. I understand the game at a high level. I’m a tough player who is consistently available. I’m going to put my head down and go to work. My goal is to keep a strong work ethic.

I never get complacent. I’m going to continue getting better. I want to win at the end of the day.